Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
WE FEAR IT’S ALL OVER
Clubs worried that 2019/20 campaign is finished
PREMIER LEAGUE clubs fear the season will not be completed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
FA chairman Greg Clarke raised the nightmare scenario that the domestic campaign might not be finished at yesterday’s Premier League crisis meeting which ended with all top-flight action suspended until at least April 4. Asked whether the season would be played to a finish, Aston Villa chief executive Christian Purslow said: “We have no idea. Let’s hope so.” Privately, clubs already believe there is no chance of top-flight football resuming on April 4. One senior executive insisted they expected games to resume in May “at the earliest” and that it was “laughable” to consider April 4 for a reboot.
It is impossible to think runaway leaders Liverpool
will not be crowned champions.
But the 20 Premier League clubs may have to look at alternatives when it comes to relegation and Champions League places – if fixtures are not completed.
They will meet again on Thursday to try and devise a more detailed contingency plan.
It will help if, as expected, on Tuesday UEFA rubber-stamp the proposal to postpone Euro 2020 by a year.
European football’s governing body are also likely to make the Champions League and
Europa League quarter and semi-finals one-off ties.
That would at least give the Premier League some breathing space to complete their season.
Playing behind closed doors is still the most likely option – but will not solve anything when players or staff become infected and games are subsequently called off.
The Premier League is ready to explore all options, but there is a feeling it will cause the season to run on into July, have a knock-on effect by causing next season to start late and even have ramifications for 2021-22.